Wikinews Shorts: April 20, 2007
{{Wikinews Shorts header|April 20, 2007}}

=== Iraq has fourth highest execution rate, says Amnesty ===

[[Image:Flag of Iraq.svg|right|100px]]

The human rights organisation [[w:Amnesty International|Amnesty International]] says that [[Iraq]] now ranks fourth in the list of countries with high execution rates.

Since mid 2004, Iraq has sentenced 270 people to death, at least 100 of whom have already been hanged. Amnesty says that Iraq's reintroduction of the [[w:death sentence|death sentence]] goes against a general global trend for its abolition.

In a press release, Amnesty says many of the trials are unfair, criticising the use of televised pre-trial confessions and a failure to  investigate allegations of torture. 

Kate Allen, Amnesty's UK director said: "The clock has been turned back in Iraq and we've seen a return to large numbers of people being condemned to death and hastily executed after unfair trials," 

The criticisms have been dismissed by Iraqi officials. 

'''Sources''' 
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/middle_east/6574425.stm
|title=Amnesty condemns Iraq executions
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=April 20, 2007}}
*{{source-pr|url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140202007
|title=Iraq: Televised 'confessions', torture and unfair trials underpin world's fourth highest executioner.
|author=   
|pub=Amnesty International
|date=April 20,2007}}
*{{source-pr|url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde140142007
|title=Iraq Unjust and unfair: The death penalty in Iraq
|pub=Amnesty International
|date=April 20, 2007}}
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===Canadian Conservatives regret participation in Sikh parade===

The [[w:Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives]] have expressed regret for participating in a Sikh Parade in [[w:Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey, British Columbia]] because a display of [[w:India|Indian]] saints included [[w:Talwinder Tarmar|Talwinder Tarmar]], the terrorist that led the 1985 Air India bomb plot. The president of the temple that organized the parade claims that he is not guilty. 

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=9d68b8ff-06ac-4448-9fb8-0bb891e2cc58
|title=Premier didn't know parade would include salute to terror suspect: aide
|author=Kim Bolan, Vancouver Sun
|pub=canada.com
|date=April 20, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/04/19/parade-politicians.html
|title=Tories regret participation in parade honouring alleged terrorist
|author=CBC News
|pub=CBC News
|date=April 19, 2007}}

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===Seven year-old finds cocaine in pocket===

A bag of cocaine worth around $8,900 was found by a first grade boy while checking his jacket pocket. The bag contained 89 grams of crack cocaine. "The boy got scared and told his teacher", said a Tampa police spokeswoman.

'''Sources'''
*{{source|url=http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=95710
|title=1st Grader Finds Cocaine in Pocket
|author=Associated Press
|pub=WXIA-TV
|date=April 20, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266867,00.html
|title=Boy, 7, Finds Nearly $9,000 Worth of Crack in Pocket
|author=|pub=FOXNews
|date=March 19, 2007}}
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{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:Right to a fair trial]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Drugs]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:British Columbia]]
[[Category:Amnesty International]]
[[Category:Death penalty]]
[[Category:Cocaine]]
[[Category:Crack cocaine]]
[[Category:Religion]]
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The human rights organisation Amnesty International says that Iraq now ranks fourth in the list of countries with high execution rates.

Since mid 2004, Iraq has sentenced 270 people to death, at least 100 of whom have already been hanged. Amnesty says that Iraq's reintroduction of the death sentence goes against a general global trend for its abolition.

In a press release, Amnesty says many of the trials are unfair, criticising the use of televised pre-trial confessions and a failure to  investigate allegations of torture. 

Kate Allen, Amnesty's UK director said: "The clock has been turned back in Iraq and we've seen a return to large numbers of people being condemned to death and hastily executed after unfair trials," 

The criticisms have been dismissed by Iraqi officials. 

'Sources' 
*
*
*
----

The Conservatives have expressed regret for participating in a Sikh Parade in Surrey, British Columbia because a display of Indian saints included Talwinder Tarmar, the terrorist that led the 1985 Air India bomb plot. The president of the temple that organized the parade claims that he is not guilty. 

'Sources'
*
*

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A bag of cocaine worth around $8,900 was found by a first grade boy while checking his jacket pocket. The bag contained 89 grams of crack cocaine. "The boy got scared and told his teacher", said a Tampa police spokeswoman.

'Sources'
*
*
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Right to a fair trial Politics and conflicts Crime and law Drugs Iraq Canada United States Middle East North America British Columbia Amnesty International Death penalty Cocaine Crack cocaine Religion